World Welcomes 2026 with Fireworks, Traditions and Tight Security

Cities around the world ushered in 2026 with spectacular fireworks, light displays and public celebrations, as millions gathered at iconic landmarks to mark the start of the New Year.

From Europe to the Asia-Pacific and the Americas, festivities unfolded across time zones, blending modern spectacles with centuries-old traditions.

New Year 2026 celebration 🎉 Sydney, Australia.🇦🇺 pic.twitter.com/qhcYNYPQhu

— GLOBAL PULSE 360 (@DataIsKnowldge) December 31, 2025

Fireworks and Festivities Across Continents

In Paris, revellers lined the Champs-Élysées as a countdown to midnight was projected onto the Arc de Triomphe. Similar scenes played out in Berlin and Rome, where fireworks and public events illuminated major city squares.

Dubai staged one of the world’s most widely watched New Year celebrations, with fireworks, lasers and a synchronized light-and-sound show centred on the Burj Khalifa. Thousands queued for hours to witness the display at the world’s tallest building.

Across East Asia, the arrival of 2026 was marked by traditional rituals. In Japan, temple bells rang nationwide as worshippers welcomed the New Year, while many climbed mountains to witness the year’s first sunrise. In South Korea, thousands gathered at Seoul’s Bosingak bell pavilion, where a bronze bell was struck 33 times at midnight, a ritual believed to drive away misfortune and usher in peace.

China welcomed the New Year with drum performances at the Juyong Pass of the Great Wall near Beijing. Crowds waved signs bearing “2026” alongside symbols associated with the upcoming Year of the Horse in the lunar calendar.

Pacific island nations closest to the International Date Line — including Kiribati, Tonga and New Zealand — were the first to welcome 2026. Celebrations then moved westward, reaching Australia and East Asia in sequence.

Sydney marked the New Year with its iconic harbour fireworks, featuring tens of thousands of pyrotechnic effects launched from barges and landmarks, including a cascading display from the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The event took place under heightened security following a recent deadly shooting at a Jewish gathering in the city. A minute’s silence was observed ahead of midnight, with the Harbour Bridge illuminated in white and a menorah projected onto its pylons in tribute to the victims.

Celebrations in Europe and the Americas

In the United Kingdom, London rang in 2026 with fireworks over the River Thames, described by the Mayor’s office as Europe’s largest annual New Year display.

In the United States, celebrations went ahead across major cities despite freezing temperatures in parts of the country. In Washington, the Washington Monument was illuminated as part of “Freedom 250,” marking the beginning of events linked to the country’s 250th anniversary.

In New York, large crowds gathered in Times Square under tight security for the traditional ball drop. Meanwhile, preparations were under way in Brazil for massive celebrations on Rio de Janeiro’s Copacabana Beach, where organisers said they aimed to set new attendance records.

What to Watch in 2026

The year ahead is expected to feature major global milestones in sports, science and technology. Italy will host the Winter Olympics in February, while the largest football World Cup in history — featuring 48 teams — will be held across the United States, Mexico and Canada in June and July.

In space exploration, NASA plans a crewed mission to orbit the Moon, its first such endeavour in more than five decades. At the same time, artificial intelligence is likely to face increased scrutiny from regulators and investors amid growing debate over its economic impact and long-term risks.

As 2026 begins, countries around the world look ahead to a year shaped by both promise and uncertainty.